Means for attaching wall panel units together



Feb. 8, 1938. H. H. KELLER MEANS FOR ATTACHING WALL PANEL UNITS TOGETHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 25, 1935 I I I 12w NTOR. H y ll-lfeller' BY V ATTORNEY.

Feb. 8, 1938. H. H. KEL L ER 2,107,418

MEANS FOR ATTACHING WALL PANEL UNITS TOGETHER Filpd Nov. 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ""f-Zii INVENTOR. Harry H-Kz/ler Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR ATTACHING WALL PANEL UNITS TOGETHER ration of Delaware Application November 25, 1935, SerialNo. 51,496.

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements by means of which panel units assembled to form a. wall or partition are. secured together.

The many detailed objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the attached drawings This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement and relative location of parts, all in accordance with the attached disclosure.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a wall panel unit in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a portion of a wall or partition built up of such units;

Figure 3 illustrates the method of securing adjacent panels together;

Figure 4 illustrates a modified arrangement;

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevational view of one of the side members of a panel unit;

Figures 6 and '7, and 8 and 9, and 10 and 11 are end and elevational views of different forms of locking pins;

Figure 12 is an elevational view of a portion of a modified method of connecting adjacent panel units together;

Figure 13 is a cross sectional view taken on the line !3-l3 of Figure 12;

Figures 14, 15 and 16 are views similar to Figure 13 of modified arrangements; and

Figure 1'7 is a cross sectional View showing the method of locking adjacent panels together employing a modified form of side member.

This invention is particularly adapted for use a with panels constructed in accordance with the disclosure in my copending application Serial No. 663,284, filed March 29, 1933, for Building structures.

The general form of a panel unit is illustrated in Figure 1 as comprising top and bottom members l and 2 and side members 3 and 4 secured together in anysuitable manner to form an open frame work. As disclosed in my above mentioned application, and as illustrated in the drawings, these frame members may be formed of light gauge metal or moulded of plastic materials to provide thin wall hollow or tubular elements. These elements may be formed by drawing, rolling, or extrusion to have the desired cross sectional form. The top and bottom members are preferably of plain rectangular cross section while in accordance with this invention the side members 3 and 4 are of the cross sectional form illustrated in Figures 3 or 4, having outer faces lying at an angle of 45 degrees to the plane of the panel unit when in place, and having longitudinal grooves 6' extending throughout the length thereof, as indicated in Figure 5. These panel units are preferably covered on one or both sides with a' suitable covering material such as fiber board, asbestos board, sheet rock, metal, wood, and the like.

By reason of the construction of the faces of the side members so as to lie at an angle preferably of 45 degrees to the plane of the unit, the number of units may be assembled as illustrated in Figure 2 to form a wall or partition for any desired use. By reason of the angular construction of the side members the panels may be formed into straight walls meeting at the corners as shown in Figure 2. Adjacent panels are secured together by means of pins or keys 1 which lie in the grooves E of the inclined faces, securely holding adjacent units together. As is well known, such a wall construction is secured at the ends so as to prevent any movement of the units in a direction parallel to the planes thereof. As disclosed in my above mentioned copending application, these units are secured at the top and bottom to the floor and ceiling members. To insure against movement of the panel units in a direction normal to their planes the key memhers I are provided. By reason of the construction illustrated the same panel units may meet to form a corner and be locked togetherby means of a key 1, as illustrated in Figure 2. V

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 the key members are of rectangular form but may, if desired,

be of circular form as illustrated at Bin Figure 4,

in which case the groove on the inclined face of the side members will be of semi-circular form, as indicated at 8.

The key members are either of solid, section or of a hollow section. Suitable forms of keys of hollow section are illustrated in Figures 6 to 11 inclusive. The key of Figures 6 and '7 is of hollow tubular form of rectangular cross section, formed up of light gauge metal in any suitable manner.

The form of key illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 is similar to that of Figures 6 and 7 but has concave sides, as shown. A further feature of construction is illustrated in Figure 8, namely providing a slot along one side of the key member such as would occur when the key is formed up from a flat strip of steel with the edges terminating in spaced relation. This forms a resilient key which may be readily forced into place.

A round form of hollow tubular key is illustrated, in Figures. 10. and 11.

The remaining figures illustrate modified ways of attaching adjacent panel units together.

In Figure 13 a joint between adjacent panel members is shown in the form of a series of nesting loops l0 and II. In this case the inclined faces are rolled or otherwise formed to provide a series of interrupted loops l0 and II longitudinally displacedso that a pair of side members of adjacent Wall units may be nested or interlooped by the passage of the loops of one side member between and into alignment with the loops of the adjacent side member. With this arrangement in looking down on a panel unit a channel results from the nesting of the loops, which channel may have, as illustrated in Figures 13 and 14, any desired cross sectional form. Thus in Figure 13 is illustrated an arrangement in which the loops are of right angle form so that when nested they will form a channel to receive a locking pin l2 which'securely holds the adjacent panels together.

As illustrated in Figure 14, these loops may be of semi-circular form so as to receive a circular pin l3.

In Figure 15 a substantially rectangular pin I4 is employed having the corners cut off in one direction. The pin. is of a length so that it will form a sliding fit with the loops. However, when it is turned through an angle of degrees to the position shown in Figure 15, the chamfered edges of the pin will lie against the sides of the loops so as to be securely locked in place. The material of the loops will spring sufficiently topermit of the turning of the pin to snap it into position.

The same idea is illustrated in Figure 16 with the exception that the pin l5 has sharp corners so that when it is turned through an angle of 90 degrees the sharp corners will bite into the material of the loops and lock the pin in place.

Figure 17 shows the application of the principles of this form of device to a side member or stud of different form than that illustrated in the previous figures. In this case the side members are of L formation, and are provided with loops l0 and H to receive a pin l6.

In the forms of structure shown in Figures 12 to 17 inclusive the pins may as before be of solid or hollow section. In all cases the pins may be made up in a series of shorter lengths so that several pins are required to fill the channel or keyway of adjacent panels. In addition these pins may be tapered at the lower end to facilitate their insertion, particularly in the case of the construction of Figure 12.

It will be at once apparent to those skilled in the art that the principles of this invention adapt themselves to an inexpensive form of construction which is desirable for use in prefabricated structures where the various building units are fabricated at the factory and assembled on location. The method of locking the adjacent panels together provides an exceedingly simple, foolproof arrangement adapted for installation by the most unskilled labor without danger of faulty construction.

The principle of having the side members of the panels inclined adapts them for incorporation into walls for rooms of any desired size and configuration.

From the above description it will be apparent that this invention resides in certain principles of construction and association which may be employed in other physical forms by those skilled in the art without departure from the scope thereof. I do not, therefore, desire to be sections, the outer faces of said side members being inclined to the plane of the unit and having longitudinal grooves formed therein, said grooves being of polygonal cross-section.

3. .A construction as described, comprising a wall panel unit, including side frame members constructed in the form of thin Walled hollow sections, the outer faces of said side members being inclined to the plane of the unit and having longitudinal grooves formed therein, said grooves being of rectangular cross-section.

4. A construction as described, comprising a wall panel unit, including side frame members constructed in the form of thin Walled hollow sections, the outer faces of said side members being inclined to the plane of the unit and having longitudinal grooves formed therein, said grooves being of curved cr0sssection.

5. A construction as described, comprising a wall panel unit, including side frame members constructed in the form of thin walled hollow sections, the outer faces of said side members being inclined to the plane of the unit and having longitudinal grooves formed therein, and a plurality of spaced loops forming with the grooves key channels.

6. A construction as described, comprising a wall panel unit, including side frame members constructed in the form of thin walled hollow sections, the outer faces of said side members be-- ing inclined to the plane of the unit and having longitudinal grooves formed therein, and a plurality of spaced loops forming with the grooves key channels, said key channels being of polygonal cross-section.

7. A construction as described, comprising a wall panel unit, including side frame members constructed in the form of thin walled hollow sections, the outer faces of said side members being inclined to the plane of the unit and having longitudinal grooves formed therein, and a plurality of spaced loops forming with the grooves key channels, said key channels being of rectangular cross-section.

8. A construction as described, comprising a wall panel unit, including side frame members constructed in the form of thin walled hollow sections, the outer faces of said side members being inclined to the plane of the unit and. having longitudinal grooves formed therein, and a plurality of spaced loops forming with the grooves key channels, said key channels being of curved cross-section.

9. A wall comprising a plurality of individual units mounted in alignment, each unit including thin walled side members of hollow section, the outer faces of said members being inclined to the planes of the respective units and contacting respectively, the inclined faces having longitudinal grooves and key members lying in the channels formed by each contiguous pair of grooves.

10. A wall comprising a plurality of individual units mounted in alignment, each unit including thin walled side members of hollow section, the outer faces of said members being inclined to the planes of the respective units and contacting respectively, the inclined faces having longitudinal grooves and key members lying in the channels formed by each contiguous pair of grooves, said channels being of polygonal cross-section.

11. A wall comprising a plurality of individual units mounted in alignment, each unit including thin walled side members of hollow section, the outer faces of said members being inclined to the planes of the respective units and contacting respectively, the inclined faces having longitudinal grooves and key members lying in the channels formed by each contiguous pair of grooves, said channels being of rectangular cross-section.

12. A wall comprising a plurality of individual units mounted in alignment, each unit including thin walled side members of hollow section, the outer faces of said members being inclined to the planes of the respective units and contacting respectively, the inclined faces having longitudinal grooves and key members lying in the channels formed by each contiguous pair of grooves, said channels being of curved cross-section.

13. A wall construction, comprising a plurality of panel units, each including side members of thin walled hollow section, the outer faces of the side members being inclined to the planes of the respective units and contacting in pairs, the inclined contacting faces having a series of loops formed thereon and aligned to form channels, and key members lying in said channels.

HARRY H. KELLER. 

